BACK THE BID

“The whole of Wales has got behind the London 2012 bid and the Millennium Stadium is ready, willing and able to play its part in seven years time should London beat off the challenges of Paris, Moscow, Madrid and New York.

“The Millennium Stadium is one of the venues short-listed to host football matches in 2012 and the impact a successful London bid would have on British sport as a whole would be fantastic.

“The London bid leaders, Lord Coe and Keith Mills, have done a great job in narrowing the gap on the favourites Paris and Madrid and when the 116 International Olympic Committee members take their decision in Singapore on Wednesday it looks as though it is going to be a close run affair.

“While London will be the epicentre of the bid, Lord Coe and his team have ensured that the rest of the UK gets involved by including venues such as the Millennium Stadium, Scotland’s Hampden Park and Northern Ireland’s Windsor Park in the bid.

“Cardiff has a long association with world class sport which dates back to 1884, when Wales played Ireland in a rugby international at Cardiff Arms Park. Since then the Welsh capital has hosted the Commonwealth Games, the Rugby World Cup, regular rugby and soccer internationals and, of course, the world heavyweight boxing championship fight between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno.

“Wales will be heavily involved in the staging of the 2007 Rugby World Cup and in 2010 the Ryder Cup will be staged at the Celtic manor resort.

“But the addition of an Olympic link would truly be the icing on the cake. In fact, it would be the sprinkles on top of the cream on top of the cherry on the top of the icing on the cake!

“The hardest currency in world sport is an Olympic gold medal. The Games are the greatest sporting event staged and to be involved in any capacity would be an honour and a privilege.

“Having backed the London bid right from the start, I’m sure I speak for every sports fan in Wales when I wish Lord Coe and his team the very best of luck in Singapore.

“Let’s hope they can pull it off and bring the Olympic Games back to Britain.”